Araz Abdullayev

Araz Abdulla oğlu Abdullayev (born 18 April 1992) is an Azerbaijani footballer who last played as a winger for Qarabağ FK and the Azerbaijan national team.

Araz Abdullayev

Abdullayev in national team training in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Araz Abdulla oğlu Abdullayev[1]
Date of birth	(1992-04-18) 18 April 1992
Place of birth	Baku, Azerbaijan
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	Neftchi Baku
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2011	Neftchi Baku	33	(2)
2011–2012	Everton	0	(0)
2011	→ Neftchi Baku (loan)	8	(3)
2012	→ Panionios (loan)	8	(0)
2012–2016	Neftchi Baku	123	(23)
2017–2018	Gabala	9	(0)
2017–2018	→ Anorthosis (loan)	30	(3)
2018–2020	Panionios	0	(0)
2018–2020	→ Qarabağ (loan)	29	(3)
National team^‡
2006–2008	Azerbaijan U17	9	(2)
2008–2009	Azerbaijan U19	8	(2)
2008–2013	Azerbaijan U21	8	(3)
2008–	Azerbaijan	38	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 June 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 November 2019

Career

Club

Early years

Born in Baku, Abdullayev played for Neftchi Baku's youth team from January 2007 to December 2008. He made his first team debut for Neftchi on 5 October 2008.[2] In the November 2011, Neftchi Baku celebrated its 1000th goal, which is scored by Araz Abdullayev.[3]

Everton

English Premier League club Everton agreed a deal on 4 July 2010 that gave them first option to sign Abdullayev over the next two years if a work permit could be attained.[4] On 21 September, it was announced that he will start on an initial three-year contract, with the option for two more seasons, when the transfer window opens in January 2011.[5][6] On 7 January 2011, it was announced that Everton signed long-term contract with Abdullayev subject to him being granted a work permit, even though the length of contract is not revealed and allowed him to play for the Neftchi until Azerbaijan Premier League's end.[7][8][9] He returned to Everton for their 2011-12 Premier League campaign and featured in Everton Reserves first friendly of the season against Freiburg in the 2011 Lev Yashin Cup[10]

Loan to Panionios

On 27 December 2011, Abdullayev joined Panionios on a season-long loan.[11] He debuted in friendly match on 30 December 2011, against Koropi, Abdullayev played 61 minutes in the starting lineup, Panionios won 3–2.[12] Abdullayev made his Greece Superleague debut for Panionios in a 2–0 home victory against Asteras Tripoli on 3 January 2012.[13]

Return to Neftchi

Abdullayev returned to Neftchi Baku in the summer of 2012 and soon became the main squad player. During the 2012–13 season, he helped his team to become the first Azerbaijani team to advance to the group stage of UEFA Europe League. Neftchi was drawn in Group H alongside Internazionale, Rubin Kazan and Partizan. Araz made five appearances in the UEFA Europa League group stage. On 20 September 2012, Abdullayev made his debut in the UEFA Europa League group stage game against Partizan, entering as a substitute for Flavinho in the 78th minute.[14] The same season, Neftchi Baku won both the Azerbaijan Premier League and Azerbaijan Cup. Abdullayev won the National Cup with Neftchi once again in the 2013–14 season and became a runner-up in 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons, losing to Qarabağ in the final match both times. During the 4.5 years spent at Neftchi, Araz Abdullayev played a total of 173 games in all tournaments and scored 25 goals.

Araz scored his first European goal against Slovenian Koper in the second qualifying round of the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League.[15] He scored 3 goals in 25 matches during the club's European matches.

Gabala

On 31 December 2016, Abdullayev signed a two-year contract with Gabala.[16] Abdullayev made his Azerbaijan Premier League debut for Gabala played 84 minutes in the starting lineup, in a 1–1 away draw against Kapaz on 28 February 2017.[17]

Loan to Anorthosis

On 12 August 2017, Anorthosis announced the signing of Abdullayev on a season-long loan deal.[18] Abdullayev made his Cypriot First Division debut for Anorthosis played 83 minutes in the starting lineup, in a 1–1 away draw against Nea Salamis on 20 August 2017.[19] He scored his first goal for Anorthosis in the Cypriot First Division match against AEL Limassol in a 1–1 home draw on 25 November 2017.[20]

Panionios

On 7 July 2018, Abdullayev signed a two-year contract with Superleague side Panionios.[21]

Loan to Qarabağ

On 31 August 2018, Qarabağ FK announced the signing of Abdullayev on a two-year loan deal.[22]

International

Araz Abdullayev (number 17) with the Azerbaijan U-21 team.

After a string of impressive performances at club level, Abdullayev was called up to Azerbaijan squad for the 2010 World Cup qualification match against Finland scheduled for 11 October 2008, which made him the youngest ever Azerbaijan international, making his debut at 16 years 4 months.[23]

On 9 March 2017, he scored his first senior international goal for the Azerbaijan national football team, in a 2–1 away win friendly match against Qatar in Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.[24]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 May 2018[25][26]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Neftchi Baku	2008–09	Azerbaijan Premier League	5	1			-		0	0	-		5	1
	2009–10		10	0	1	0	-		-		-		11	0
	2010–11		18	1	2	0	-		0	0	-		20	1
	2011–12		8	3	0	0	-		0	0	-		8	3
	Total		41	5	3	0	-	-	0	0	-	-	44	5
Panionios (loan)	2011–12	Superleague Greece	8	0	1	0	–		–		–		9	0
Neftchi Baku	2012–13	Azerbaijan Premier League	27	4	6	1	-		11	0	-		44	5
	2013–14		29	6	5	2	-		2	0	1	0	37	8
	2014–15		30	4	6	0	-		6	1	-		42	5
	2015–16		26	6	6	1	-		2	2	-		34	9
	2016–17		11	3	2	0	-		4	0	-		17	3
	Total		123	23	25	4	-	-	25	3	-	-	173	30
Gabala	2016–17	Azerbaijan Premier League	9	0	2	0	–		0	0	–		11	0
	2017–18		0	0	0	0	–		0	0	–		0	0
	Total		9	0	2	0	-	-	0	0	-	-	11	0
Anorthosis (loan)	2017–18	Cypriot First Division	30	3	3	0	–		0	0	–		33	3
Career total			211	28	34	4	-	-	25	3	1	0	269	35

International

Azerbaijan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2008	2	0
2009	0	0
2010	1	0
2011	0	0
2012	0	0
2013	5	0
2014	6	0
2015	2	0
2016	4	0
2017	3	2
2018	8	1
2019	7	0
Total	38	3

Statistics accurate as of match played 16 November 2019[26]

International goals

Scores and results list Azerbaijan's goal tally first.[26]

No	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	9 March 2017	Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar	Qatar	2–1	2–1	Friendly
2.	4 September 2017	Bakcell Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan	San Marino	2–0	5–1	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.	14 October 2018	Baku Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan	Malta	1–1	1–1	2018–19 UEFA Nations League D

Honours

Neftchi Baku

• Azerbaijan Premier League: 2010–11, 2012–13
• Azerbaijan Cup: 2012–13, 2013–14

References

1. http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=25908
2. "Araz Abdullayev: "Başqa klublardan da təklif almışam"" (in Azerbaijani). FANAT.AZ. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
3. "2011-ci ilin sirrini APASPORT açdı – EKSKLÜZİV - STATİSTİKA". APASPORT.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 13 May 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
4. "Everton agree deal for Azerbaijan teenager". BBC Sport. 4 July 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
5. "Everton agree January deal for Azerbaijani boy wonder Araz Abdullayev". Daily Mail. London. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
6. "Everton agree deal to sign Neftchi Baku starlet Araz Abdullayev". goal.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
7. "Араз Абдуллаев – игрок Эвертона, но сезон проведет в Нефтчи". Azerisport.com. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
8. "Araz Abdullayevin "Everton"a gedəcəyi gün dəqiqləşdi". Apasport.az. Archived from the original on 9 January 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
9. "David Moyes targets Azerbaijani wonderkid Araz Abdullayev for Everton FC". Retrieved 8 January 2011.
10. Everton [@Everton] (15 July 2011). "#everton v Freiberg: Davies, Browning, Mustafi, Duffy, Bidwell, Forshaw, Abdullayev, Lundstram, Baxter, Vellios, Silva" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
11. "Араз Абдуллаев перешел в Паниониос". Azerisport.com. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
12. "Araz Abdullayev's debut in Panionios FC". Today.az. 30 December 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
13. "PANIONIOS VS. ASTERAS TRIPOLIS 2 - 0". Soccerway. 3 January 2012.
14. 2012-13 UEFA Europa League group stage matches, UEFA.com
15. 2014-15 UEFA Europa League, Second qualifying round matches, UEFA.com
16. "Gabala signed Araz Abdullayev from national senior team". gabalafc.az. Gabala FC. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
17. "KAPAZ VS. QABALA 1 - 1". Soccerway. 28 February 2017.
18. "Σύναψη συνεργασίας με Αράζ Αμπτουλάγιεφ". anorthosisfc.com (in Greek). Anorthosis Famagusta FC. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
19. "NEA SALAMIS VS. ANORTHOSIS 1 - 1". Soccerway. 20 August 2017.
20. "ANORTHOSIS VS. AEL 1 - 1". Soccerway. 25 November 2017.
21. "Araz bu gün "Panionios"la müqavilə bağlayacaq". korner.az. 6 July 2017.
22. "ARAZ ABDULLAYEV "QARABAĞ"IMIZDA !". qarabagh.com (in Azerbaijani). Qarabağ FK. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
23. "Araz Abdullayev yığmada yeni rekord müəyyənləşdiribа" (in Azerbaijani). FANAT.AZ. 13 October 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
24. "QATAR VS. AZERBAIJAN 1 - 2". Soccerway. 9 March 2017.
25. "A.Abdullayev". soccerway.com. Soccerway. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
26. "Araz Abdullayev". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 31 December 2016.

External links

• Araz Abdullayev – FIFA competition record
• Araz Abdullayev – UEFA competition record
• Araz Abdullayev at National-Football-Teams.com
• Araz Abdullayev at Soccerway